France in eighteen hundred and two : $b Described in a series of contemporary lettersYorke, Henry Redhead
History
France in eighteen hundred and two : $b Described in a series of contemporary letters
Yorke, Henry Redhead
France -- Description and travel
Bonaparte, after his first campaign in Italy, and when the peace
of Campo-Formio was concluded, sent for the painter, with whom he
had an interview. The General desiring he should paint his portrait
David said, “I will paint you sword in hand in the midst of a
battle.” Bonaparte replied, “Battles are not now gained with swords.
Paint me seated on a fiery charger.” This idea was realised in that
well-known picture, “The Return from Marengo.” Napoleon, after
assuming the imperial title, appointed David his painter-in-ordinary,
and commissioned him to paint four immense pictures to cover the
walls of the throne room in the Tuileries. “The Coronation” and “The
Distribution of Eagles in the Champ de Maers” were the only two
executed. “The Coronation” occupied the artist during three years
of incessant work. Until 1814 David remained in Paris, an imperial
favourite and a fashionable portrait-painter, enjoying the reputation
of being the greatest artist of his day. On the return of the Bourbons,
of whom he had been in a certain sense a personal enemy, he was not
allowed to exhibit his great picture, “The Thermophyles,” in public.
After the Second Restoration he was banished from France, to which
country he never returned. Before his departure he cut his two great
works, “The Coronation” and “The Distribution of the Eagles,” to pieces
with his own hands. By the order of Louis XVIII. the fragments were
re-united, and the pictures may now be seen in the museum at Versailles.
During his twenty years exile David continued to paint with industry
and vigour, dying at Brussels in 1824.
D’ESTAING, GENERAL.
The General mentioned by Yorke was a member of a very ancient family,
whose archives date back to the tenth century. A Count D’Estaing saved
the life of Philippe Augustus in battle. As a reward the D’Estaing
family were granted the privilege by that King of quartering the Royal
arms of France upon their escutcheon. An Admiral D’Estaing, uncle of
General D’Estaing, was one of the most distinguished French naval
officers of the eighteenth century; his opinions were liberal, and he
at first favoured the Revolutionary changes. He was, nevertheless, a
devoted friend of Marie Antoinette, and when she was tried in October
1793, made an effort to assist in her defence. He fell in consequence
under the suspicion of the Committee of Public Safety, and was
condemned and executed. When sentence of death was pronounced upon him,
he exclaimed: “You had better send my head to the English; they will
pay you highly for it.”
FITZ JAMES, EDOUARD, DUKE DE.
Born at Versailles, 1776; died in Paris, 1838.
His family emigrated in the early days of the Revolution, and settled
in Italy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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